Method for real time display of maintenance device location in an internal space

• US 20030189596A1
• Filed: 04/05/2002
• Published: 10/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: U-Tech Environmental Manufacturing Supply, Inc.
• Original Assignee: U-Tech Environmental Manufacturing Supply, Inc.
• Inventors: Janu, David G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,010,759 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/772
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

A method for real time display of maintenance device location in an internal space includes a real time location display. An inspection window includes the real time location display, an observations spreadsheet, and a distance display. If the maintenance device is a video camera, a video screen is also included in the inspection window. The inspection window is displayed on a computer monitor. As a video camera is moved through an internal space, a video signal and distance signal are sent to a computer. Location display software on the computer receives the distance signal and provides a real time location display of the distance that the video camera has traveled. The observations spreadsheet enables an operator to enter information concerning a particular distance measurement of interest and which is also shown on the real time location display. The video screen displays real time video camera feed.

Claims

1. A method for real time display of maintenance device location in an internal space including the steps of:

displaying a representation of an internal space; and

displaying the position of a maintenance device in real time relative to said representation of an internal space.

2. The method for real time display of maintenance device location in an internal space of claim 1, further including the step of:

providing a dimensional scale adjacent said representation of an internal space.

3. The method for real time display of maintenance device location in an internal space of claim 2, further including the step of:

scaling said dimensional scale to fit a set size window as the maintenance device travels through the internal space.

4. The method for real time display of maintenance device location in an internal space of claim 1, further including the step of:

providing a real time dimensional scale adjacent said representation of an internal space.

5. The method for real time display of maintenance device location in an internal space of claim 1, further including the step of:

displaying a distance measurement of an observation adjacent said representation of an internal space.

6. The method for real time display of maintenance device location in an internal space of claim 5, further including the step of:

displaying a number of the observation adjacent said distance measurement of the observation.

7. The method for real time display of maintenance device location in an internal space of claim 1, further including the steps of:

displaying at least one icon adjacent said representation of an internal space; and

revealing observation information from said at least one icon with a mouse.

8. The method for real time display of maintenance device location in an internal space of claim 1, further including the step of:

terminating each end of said representation of an internal space with a manhole circle having identification that corresponds to an actual manhole.

9. The method for real time display of maintenance device location in an internal space of claim 1, further including the step of:

entering information concerning an observation through an observation spreadsheet.

10. A method for real time display of maintenance device location in an internal space including the steps of:

displaying a representation of an internal space;

displaying the position of a maintenance device in real time relative to said representation of an internal space; and

displaying at least one icon adjacent said representation of an internal space.

11. The method for real time display of maintenance device location in an internal space of claim 10, further including the step of:

providing a dimensional scale adjacent said representation of an internal space.

12. The method for real time display of maintenance device location in an internal space of claim 11, further including the step of:

scaling said dimensional scale to fit a set size window as the maintenance device travels through the internal space.

13. The method for real time display of maintenance device location in an internal space of claim 10, further including the step of:

providing a real time dimensional scale adjacent said representation of an internal space.

14. The method for real time display of maintenance device location in an internal space of claim 10, further including the step of:

revealing observation information from said at least one icon with a mouse.

15. The method for real time display of maintenance device location in an internal space of claim 10, further including the step of:

terminating each end of said representation of an internal space with a manhole circle having identification that corresponds to an actual manhole.

16. The method for real time display of maintenance device location in an internal space of claim 10, further including the step of:

entering information concerning an observation through an observation spreadsheet.

17. A method for real time display of maintenance device location in an internal space including the steps of:

displaying a representation of an internal space;

displaying the position of a maintenance device in real time relative to said representation of an internal space;

displaying a real time video feed;

displaying an observation spreadsheet, said observation spreadsheet capable of receiving specific observation information at a particular distance measurement.

18. The method for real time display of maintenance device location in an internal space of claim 17, further including the step of:

providing a dimensional scale adjacent said representation of an internal space.

19. The method for real time display of maintenance device location in an internal space of claim 18, further including the step of:

scaling said dimensional scale to fit a set size window as the maintenance device travels through the internal space.

20. The method for real time display of maintenance device location in an internal space of claim 17, further including the step of:

providing a real time dimensional scale adjacent said representation of an internal space.

21. The method for real time display of maintenance device location in an internal space of claim 17, further including the step of:

displaying a distance measurement of an observation adjacent said representation of an internal space.

22. The method for real time display of maintenance device location in an internal space of claim 21, further including the step of:

displaying a number of the observation adjacent said distance measurement of the observation.

23. The method for real time display of maintenance device location in an internal space of claim 17, further including the steps of:

displaying at least one icon adjacent said representation of an internal space; and

revealing observation information from said at least one icon with a mouse.

24. The method for real time display of maintenance device location in an internal space of claim 17, further including the step of:

terminating each end of said representation of an internal space with a manhole circle having identification that corresponds to an actual manhole.